I will keeep the original post with the deatails of the attack, but here is the latest information from Sony's Press Conference held over night, the information is on both blogs

"SOME PLAYSTATION NETWORK AND QRIOCITY SERVICES TO BE AVAILABLE THIS WEEK
Phased Global Rollout of Services to Begin Regionally; System Security Enhanced to Provide Greater Protection of Personal Information.

Tokyo, May 1, 2011 â€“ Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) and Sony Network Entertainment International (SNEI, the company) announced they will shortly begin a phased restoration by region of PlayStationÂ®Network and Qriocityâ„¢ services, beginning with gaming, music and video services to be turned on. The company also announced both a series of immediate steps to enhance security across the network and a new customer appreciation program to thank its customers for their patience and loyalty.
Following a criminal cyber-attack on the companyâ€™s data-center located in San Diego, California, U.S.A., SNEI quickly turned off the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services, engaged multiple expert information security firms over the course of several days and conducted an extensive audit of the system. Since then, the company has implemented a variety of new security measures to provide greater protection of personal information. SNEI and its third-party experts have conducted extensive tests to verify the security strength of the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services. With these measures in place, SCE and SNEI plan to start a phased rollout by region of the services shortly.

The initial phase of the rollout will include, but is not limited to, the following:
â€¢ Restoration of Online game-play across the PlayStationÂ®3 (PS3) and PSPÂ® (PlayStationÂ®Portable) systems
â€¢ This includes titles requiring online verification and downloaded games
â€¢ Access to Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity for PS3/PSP for existing subscribers
â€¢ Access to account management and password reset
â€¢ Access to download un-expired Movie Rentals on PS3, PSP and MediaGo
â€¢ PlayStationÂ®Home
â€¢ Friends List
â€¢ Chat Functionality
Working closely with several outside security firms, the company has implemented significant security measures to further detect unauthorized activity and provide consumers with greater protection of their personal information. The company is also creating the position of Chief Information Security Officer, directly reporting to Shinji Hasejima, Chief Information Officer of Sony Corporation, to add a new position of expertise in and accountability for customer data protection and supplement existing information security personnel. The new security measures implemented include, but are not limited to, the following:
â€¢ Added automated software monitoring and configuration management to help defend against new attacks
â€¢ Enhanced levels of data protection and encryption
â€¢ Enhanced ability to detect software intrusions within the network, unauthorized access and unusual activity patterns
â€¢ Implementation of additional firewalls

The company also expedited an already planned move of the system to a new data center in a different location that has been under construction and development for several months. In addition, PS3 will have a forced system software update that will require all registered PlayStation Network users to change their account passwords before being able to sign into the service. As an added layer of security, that password can only be changed on the same PS3 in which that account was activated, or through validated email confirmation, a critical step to help further protect customer data.

The company is conducting a thorough and on-going investigation and working with law enforcement to track down and prosecute those responsible for the illegal intrusion.

â€œThis criminal act against our network had a significant impact not only on our consumers, but our entire industry. These illegal attacks obviously highlight the widespread problem with cyber-security. We take the security of our consumersâ€™ information very seriously and are committed to helping our consumers protect their personal data. In addition, the organization has worked around the clock to bring these services back online, and are doing so only after we had verified increased levels of security across our networks,â€ said Kazuo Hirai, Executive Deputy President, Sony Corporation. â€œOur global audience of PlayStation Network and Qriocity consumers was disrupted. We have learned lessons along the way about the valued relationship with our consumers, and to that end, we will be launching a customer appreciation program for registered consumers as a way of expressing our gratitude for their loyalty during this network downtime, as we work even harder to restore and regain their trust in us and our services.â€

Complimentary Offering and â€œWelcome Backâ€ Appreciation Program
While there is no evidence at this time that credit card data was taken, the company is committed to helping its customers protect their personal data and will provide a complimentary offering to assist users in enrolling in identity theft protection services and/or similar programs. The implementation will be at a local level and further details will be made available shortly in each region.
The company will also rollout the PlayStation Network and Qriocity â€œWelcome Backâ€ program, to be offered worldwide, which will be tailored to specific markets to provide our consumers with a selection of service options and premium content as an expression of the companyâ€™s appreciation for their patience, support and continued loyalty.

â€¢ Each territory will be offering selected PlayStation entertainment content for free download. Specific details of this content will be announced in each region soon.
â€¢ All existing PlayStation Network customers will be provided with 30 days free membership in the PlayStation Plus premium service. Current members of PlayStation Plus will receive 30 days free service.
â€¢ Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity subscribers (in countries where the service is available) will receive 30 days free service.
Additional â€œWelcome Backâ€ entertainment and service offerings will be rolled out over the coming weeks as the company returns the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services to the quality standard users have grown to enjoy and strive to exceed those exceptions.

SNEI will continue to reinforce and verify security for transactions before resuming the PlayStationÂ®Store and other Qriocity operations, scheduled for this month.

For more information about the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services intrusion and restoration, please visit <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://blog.us.playstation.com">http://blog.us.playstation.com</a><!-- m --> or <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://blog.eu.playstation.com/">http://blog.eu.playstation.com/</a><!-- m -->
About Sony Corporation
Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, game, communications, key device and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, computer entertainment and on-line businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be the leading electronics and entertainment company in the world. Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of approximately $78 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010. Sony Global Web Site: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.sony.net/">http://www.sony.net/</a><!-- m -->
About Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Recognized as the global leader and company responsible for the progression of consumer-based computer entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) manufactures, distributes and markets the PlayStationÂ® game console, the PlayStationÂ®2 computer entertainment system, the PSPÂ® (PlayStationÂ®Portable) handheld entertainment system and the PlayStationÂ®3 (PS3Â®) system. PlayStation has revolutionized home entertainment by introducing advanced 3D graphic processing, and PlayStation 2 further enhances the PlayStation legacy as the core of home networked entertainment. PSP is a handheld entertainment system that allows users to enjoy 3D games, with high-quality full-motion video, and high-fidelity stereo audio.

PS3 is an advanced computer system, incorporating the state-of-the-art Cell processor with super computer like power. SCEI, along with its subsidiary divisions Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd., and Sony Computer Entertainment Korea Inc. develops, publishes, markets and distributes software, and manages the third party licensing programs for these platforms in the respective markets worldwide. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, SCEI is an independent business unit of the Sony Group."

If you are not aware PSN is down for the forseeable future, officially Sony are saying that it will be atleast 1 to 2 days before its restored.

In the mean time, please refrain from posting any topics asking why its down or its down, please stick to this one thread.

This has just been posted on the US Blog

"hank you for your patience while we work to resolve the current outage of PlayStation Network & Qriocity services. We are currently working to send a similar message to the one below via email to all of our registered account holders regarding a compromise of personal information as a result of an illegal intrusion on our systems. These malicious actions have also had an impact on your ability to enjoy the services provided by PlayStation Network and Qriocity including online gaming and online access to music, movies, sports and TV shows. We have a clear path to have PlayStation Network and Qriocity systems back online, and expect to restore some services within a week.
Weâ€™re working day and night to ensure it is done as quickly as possible. We appreciate your patience and feedback.
Valued PlayStation Network/Qriocity Customer:
We have discovered that between April 17 and April 19, 2011, certain PlayStation Network and Qriocity service user account information was compromised in connection with an illegal and unauthorized intrusion into our network. In response to this intrusion, we have:
Temporarily turned off PlayStation Network and Qriocity services;
Engaged an outside, recognized security firm to conduct a full and complete investigation into what happened; and
Quickly taken steps to enhance security and strengthen our network infrastructure by re-building our system to provide you with greater protection of your personal information.
We greatly appreciate your patience, understanding and goodwill as we do whatever it takes to resolve these issues as quickly and efficiently as practicable.
Although we are still investigating the details of this incident, we believe that an unauthorized person has obtained the following information that you provided: name, address (city, state, zip), country, email address, birthdate, PlayStation Network/Qriocity password and login, and handle/PSN online ID. It is also possible that your profile data, including purchase history and billing address (city, state, zip), and your PlayStation Network/Qriocity password security answers may have been obtained. If you have authorized a sub-account for your dependent, the same data with respect to your dependent may have been obtained. While there is no evidence at this time that credit card data was taken, we cannot rule out the possibility. If you have provided your credit card data through PlayStation Network or Qriocity, out of an abundance of caution we are advising you that your credit card number (excluding security code) and expiration date may have been obtained.
For your security, we encourage you to be especially aware of email, telephone, and postal mail scams that ask for personal or sensitive information. Sony will not contact you in any way, including by email, asking for your credit card number, social security number or other personally identifiable information. If you are asked for this information, you can be confident Sony is not the entity asking. When the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services are fully restored, we strongly recommend that you log on and change your password. Additionally, if you use your PlayStation Network or Qriocity user name or password for other unrelated services or accounts, we strongly recommend that you change them, as well.
To protect against possible identity theft or other financial loss, we encourage you to remain vigilant, to review your account statements and to monitor your credit reports. We are providing the following information for those who wish to consider it:
U.S. residents are entitled under U.S. law to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit bureaus. To order your free credit report, visit <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.annualcreditreport.com">http://www.annualcreditreport.com</a>< !-- m --> or call toll-free (877) 322-8228.
We have also provided names and contact information for the three major U.S. credit bureaus below. At no charge, U.S. residents can have these credit bureaus place a â€œfraud alertâ€ on your file that alerts creditors to take additional steps to verify your identity prior to granting credit in your name. This service can make it more difficult for someone to get credit in your name. Note, however, that because it tells creditors to follow certain procedures to protect you, it also may delay your ability to obtain credit while the agency verifies your identity. As soon as one credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, the others are notified to place fraud alerts on your file. Should you wish to place a fraud alert, or should you have any questions regarding your credit report, please contact any one of the agencies listed below.
Experian: 888-397-3742; <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.experian.com;">http://www.experian.com;</a><!-- m --> P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013
Equifax: 800-525-6285; <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.equifax.com;">http://www.equifax.com;</a><!-- m --> P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
TransUnion: 800-680-7289; <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.transunion.com;">http://www.transunion.com;</a><!-- m --> Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
You may wish to visit the web site of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission at <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft">http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft</a><!-- m --> or reach the FTC at 1-877-382-4357 or 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580 for further information about how to protect yourself from identity theft. Your state Attorney General may also have advice on preventing identity theft, and you should report instances of known or suspected identity theft to law enforcement, your State Attorney General, and the FTC. For North Carolina residents, the Attorney General can be contacted at 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-9001; telephone (877) 566-7226; or <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ncdoj.gov">http://www.ncdoj.gov</a><!-- m -->. For Maryland residents, the Attorney General can be contacted at 200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202; telephone: (888) 743-0023; or <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.oag.state.md.us">http://www.oag.state.md.us</a><!-- m -->.
We thank you for your patience as we complete our investigation of this incident, and we regret any inconvenience. Our teams are working around the clock on this, and services will be restored as soon as possible. Sony takes information protection very seriously and will continue to work to ensure that additional measures are taken to protect personally identifiable information. Providing quality and secure entertainment services to our customers is our utmost priority. Please contact us at 1-800-345-7669 should you have any additional questions.
Sincerely,
Sony Computer Entertainment and Sony Network Entertainment"

It may cost money. But at least their servers aren't down half the time.

I find it funny whenever I here Xbox players use this arguement despite the fact that it's a HUGE exaggeration.

Normally when the servers are down due to them updating (which happens rarely) it'll last for about half a day at most. If people struggle to entertain themselves without online gaming for a matter of hours there is a much bigger problem in your life than some servers being down.

actually its expected to be 2 or more days, so i don't know where people read that its going to be half a day or a few hours, and even at 2 days they are unsure due to the fact that they are not exactly sure why it happened. It could be a lot longer.

actually its expected to be 2 or more days, so i don't know where people read that its going to be half a day or a few hours, and even at 2 days they are unsure due to the fact that they are not exactly sure why it happened. It could be a lot longer.

this says a day or two NOT 2 or more days your facts are wrong
[url:3nlf8bi5]http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/04/21/latest-update-on-psn-ou tage/[/url:3nlf8bi5]